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DIAMOND CERTIFIED EXPERT REPORTS HUB

Diamond Certified Expert Contributors

Charlie Judson is a 34-year veteran of the water treatment industry and president of Weeks Drilling & Pump Company, a Diamond Certified company since 2004. He can be reached at (707) 823-3184 or [email protected]

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Charlie Judson: A Life Well Spent

By Matt Solis, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SEBASTOPOL – Charlie Judson didn’t expect to find a career in water treatment when he was a young geology student at Santa Rosa Junior College—like many students, he was simply looking for a way to make some extra money when he stumbled upon an industry that would eventually become his life’s work. “I answered an ad for a company that was looking for someone to install water filters, which I had some experience with, and I ended up working there for a couple years and learning the basics of the business,” he remembers. “I found the water quality part of the job extremely interesting and challenging, Read more

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How To Tell If Your Well Water is Safe

SEBASTOPOL — If your water is supplied by a well, there are some basic health and safety issues you need to be aware of. First and foremost, the only way to know that your water is truly safe is…
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Greg Severs is president of S & S Painting and Coatings, Inc., a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 210-0492 or by email.

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Greg Severs: Painting His Way

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CASTRO VALLEY — After painting his way through high school and college, Greg Severs figured it only made sense to keep going. “I started painting during the summers in high school and continued to paint part-time during college,” he recounts. “My goal after college was to start my own business, and since I knew painting, I decided it might as well be a painting business. My twin brother was also a painter, so we decided to join forces and started S & S Painting and Coatings in 1978. Shortly after, he left the country to play professional basketball in Europe, Read more

Expert tip

A Coating for Worn Exterior Siding

CASTRO VALLEY — When preparing for an exterior painting project, it’s important to inspect the condition of your siding. Particularly on the southern and western exposed elevations, standard plywood siding commonly sustains splits and cracks (known as “face-checking”), which is…
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Joshua Rengifo is vice president of Joshua’s Moving & Packing Services, LLC, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (650) 557-3758 or by email.

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Joshua Rengifo: Making His Move

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SAN CARLOS — Joshua Rengifo had been in the moving business for several years when he made the move to start his own company. “I’ve been a mover for more than 18 years,” he says. “I started out working for Irish moving companies in the East Bay and San Francisco. When my wife and I started having kids, I knew I’d need a boost in my salary to support my family, so I decided to start my own moving business. At first, I didn’t even have my own truck—I had to rent one! However, after a few years, the company really started to grow. Read more

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How to Pack Furniture for Moving

SAN CARLOS — Prior to moving a piece of furniture, take steps to protect it from damage during transit. First, remove any detachable parts, such as table leaves and chair legs, and wrap these separately. If you feel so inclined,…
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Gregg Campbell is owner of B & L Glass Company, a Diamond Certified company since 2006. He can be reached at (707) 546-4143 or by email.

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Gregg Campbell: Career Transparency

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — After being hired by a glass company to do systems and accounting, the last thing Gregg Campbell expected was to one day own the business. “I was hired by the previous owners of B & L Glass Company to set up their computer systems and accounting software, which led to a full-time position handling their accounting,” he remembers. “When things slowed down in the early ’90s, they had to lay me off, but they continued to use me as a consultant. In 1999, I received a call from my friend, Phil, an employee at the company, who asked if I’d be interested in teaming up with him to purchase the business from the owners. Read more

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Dealing with Failed Insulated Glass

SANTA ROSA — If you have a window in your home that seems to be perpetually fogged up, you might be confused about what’s causing this. In actuality, this is a common occurrence with dual-pane windows, and while it can’t…
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Michael Ghanivand is owner of Advance Construction, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 621-3943 or by email.

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Michael Ghanivand: From Medicine to Construction

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

OAKLAND — A native of Iran, Michael Ghanivand originally intended to become a medical professional, but when things didn’t go as planned, he ended up building an entirely different career. “I actually have a medical background—I went to medical school at the University of Szeged in Hungary,” he explains. “The Iranian economy wasn’t doing great at the time, so my parents couldn’t send me enough money to continue my education. I came to the United States to get a job, with the intention to save up some money and return to medical school. However, after getting into construction work, Read more

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Checking for Mold During a Remodel

OAKLAND — If you’re remodeling your home, one of the most important things you can do is check to see what’s behind your walls. Why? Because if there’s any hidden mold or mildew, it could jeopardize your entire project. In…
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Bojan Milosevic is owner of European Hardwood Floors, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (415) 350-4364 or by email.

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Bojan Milosevic: A Paternal Partnership

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PLEASANT HILL — Bojan Milosevic got into the hardwood flooring trade when he partnered with his father to start a family business. “I came to the United States from Yugoslavia in 1996 with my family, at the age of 18,” he recounts. “My dad had experience as a floor installer, so he found a job working for a floor covering company in San Francisco. However, I didn’t like seeing my dad get bossed around by a guy who was younger and less skilled than him, so I suggested we team up and start our own flooring business. Since his English wasn’t very good, Read more

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Questions to Ask When Choosing Hardwood Flooring

PLEASANT HILL — When choosing hardwood flooring for your home, make sure you’re getting a quality product that’s also right for your home. One of the best ways to do this is to ask plenty of questions. Here are a…
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Juan Guzman is owner of G.O. Blessing Construction Inc., a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 381-0155 or by email.

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Juan Guzman: Unexpected Growth

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

RICHMOND — When Juan Guzman started doing landscape construction on the side of his day job, he never expected it to grow into a full-time livelihood, but that’s exactly what happened. “My first construction job was doing outdoor projects like building decks and retaining walls, and I loved it right away,” he recounts. “After that, I went to work for a regular construction company, where I learned how to build homes from the ground up. During this time, I continued to do landscaping and handyman work on the weekends, just as a way to make extra money. When the recession hit in the late 2000s, Read more

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Considerations for Building a Deck

RICHMOND — If you’re thinking about building a new deck, there are several important aspects you should consider, including the following: Purpose What purpose will your deck serve? Will it be a place for entertaining guests? A lounging area? A…
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Tim Toupin is owner of Toupin Construction Corporation, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (925) 269-4831 or by email.

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Tim Toupin: Builder for Life

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

WALNUT CREEK — Tim Toupin has been building for his entire life, to the point where it has become a fundamental part of his identity. Even when a serious illness threatened to take it all away, he found a way to hold on to the life and livelihood he cherished. “I got started in construction when I was 12 years old, sweeping up houses on a new track development for three dollars apiece,” he remembers. “Soon after, I started working for a journeyman carpenter who lived down the street from me. At age 18, I joined the carpenters union, Read more

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The Benefits of Epoxy Grout

WALNUT CREEK — If you’re having your bathroom re-tiled, you have two primary choices for grout: cement or epoxy. Cement is the traditional style of grout—it’s inexpensive and easy to work with. Epoxy grout, on the other hand, is very…
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Frank Alahwal is owner of F&A Plumbing and Rooter, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (415) 523-0011 or by email.

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Frank Alahwal: Plumbing Proprietor

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

PACIFICA — Frank Alahwal always wanted to start a business—he just wasn’t sure what kind it would be. He certainly didn’t expect it to be a plumbing business, but that’s exactly how things turned out. “I first became interested in plumbing while helping a friend remodel investment properties,” he recounts. “I’d been in the restaurant business for nearly a decade at that point, so doing some hands-on work was a refreshing change of pace. We dabbled in several different trades, but plumbing was the one that really appealed to me. When my friend showed me how to solder pipes, I was fascinated. Read more

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How to Unjam a Garbage Disposal

PACIFICA — One of the most common plumbing problems in the kitchen is a clogged or jammed garbage disposal. While you may assume this requires the assistance of a plumber, in many cases, you can easily resolve the…
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Chris Williams is owner of Chestnut Automotive & Towing, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (650) 866-5939 or by email.

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Chris Williams: An Automotive Birthright

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

REDWOOD CITY — Originally from India, Chris Williams came to the United States to join his father and take his place among the family’s ranks of automotive professionals. “I’m third-generation in the automotive business,” he explains. “I started learning from my father when I was a kid and fell in love with it pretty early on. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to go to automotive school. In 1987, my father left India for the U.S. and soon after founded Chestnut Automotive & Towing in Redwood City. As soon as I turned 18, I came to the U.S. Read more

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Troubleshooting Squeaky Brakes

REDWOOD CITY — If you notice your car’s brakes squeaking or squealing, you might think they need to be replaced. However, the reality is squeaky brakes can be caused by a number of things. Here are some potential…
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